Setting: Ask your parents to help you google some imagesof Times Square in New York to help you "see" the setting. Here are some words to type in for your search:
New York
Times Square
News stand New York
This is a Youtube video made by a boy who is in 6th grade. He lives in New York and will take you on a tour of the subway area and Times Square. Notice the 42 street signs in the subway area. You can hear all the loud noises! http://youtu.be/WS89YDjwXSk
Chapter 1 Questions
1. Why does Tucker enjoy living in an abandoned drainpipe?
2. Why does Mario work late at his family's newspaper stand?
3. Why doesn't Paul wait for his change? What does that reveal about his character?
4. If Mario were in your class, do you think he would be a friend of yours? Why or Why not?
5. What sounds do you think Tucker would not recognize?
6. How do you think Tucker feels about living in New York City?
Chapter 2 Questions
What is the mysterious sound that Mario hears late at night in the subway station?
How does Mario solve the problem of making a home for the cricket? What else might
he have done?
Why doesn’t Mama want Mario to keep the cricket?
On what conditions does Mama accept the cricket?
Why do you think Mario is so happy to have found a cricket?
Look at the two pictures in this chapter. How does the expression on Mario’s face compare
with the expressions on his parents’ faces? How do you think they feel? How would
you feel in the same situation?
Why does Papa think keeping the cricket is like keeping the newsstand?
Chapter 3 Questions
How do Chester and Tucker meet?
How did Chester the Cricket, a country insect, get to New York?
Why does Tucker interrupt the story?
How did Chester end up in the dirt where Mario found him?
Why does Chester finally chirp?
Do you think Chester and Tucker will become good friends?
What problems might a country creature face in a busy city?
Chapter 4 & 5 Questions
Why isn’t Tucker Mouse afraid of Harry the Cat?
Why does Chester begin to feel happy in the city?
Why do Tucker and Harry want to take Chester to Times Square?
Why is Chester pleased to see a star above Times Square?
How do Mickey and Mr. Smedley each express their admiration for Chester?
Why does Mario head for Chinatown?
How are Chester’s communications with Mario different from his communications
with Harry and Tucker? Why do you think the author created this difference?
How would you react if Mario showed Chester to you?
Chapter 6 Questions
Why is Chester curious about the straw hat he sees on the subway?
Why does Sai Fong invite Mario into his shop in Chinatown?
Why does Mario want to go to Sai Fong’s shop?
How does Sai Fong’s story compare with Mr. Smedley’s story and his motive for
telling it?
Why is the cricket cage so inexpensive?
What do you think is the moral of the fable that the Chinese storekeeper told Mario
about the first cricket?
Why do you think Sai Fong is so generous to Mario?
Chapter 7 & 8 Questions
How is Tucker’s reaction to the pagoda different from Chester’s reaction?
Why does Harry say that Tucker looks like a mouse in a trap?
Why does Tucker line Chester’s cage with dollar bills?
Why doesn’t the leaf in Chester’s dream taste as good as usual?
How do Tucker’s solutions to the problem of admitting guilt for the lost money differ
from Chester’s?
Why does Mama Bellini keep dropping stitches?
Why does Mario take a part time job delivering groceries?
Why does Mama Bellini release Chester from his cage?
Have you ever sleepwalked or found out later that a sound or touch in a dream was
something real?
Do you think it is fair to make Mario replace the money?
Chapter 9 Questions
Why does Mario return to see Sai Fong?
What customs and foods does Sai Fong introduce to Mario?
How does Mario find out about a cricket’s diet?
Why doesn’t Chester eat the mulberry leaf that is offered to him?
Why does Chester sing?
Why are the Chinese gentleman’s eyes moist?
How does Mario feel when he leaves? How would you feel?
Do you think Mario will visit Sai Fong again?
Chapter 10 Questions
Why are the three animals—Chester, Tucker, and Harry—having a party?
Why do the animals decide to have their party in the newsstand?
What preparations do the three animals make for the party?
Why is Chester able to play so well on the night of the party?
How does the fire start?
How do each of the animals react to the fire?
Which human is first to help put out the fire?
How do you think you would have reacted to the fire?
How do you think you would have reacted to the fire?
Chapter 11 Questions:
1. Why does Chester return to the newsstand after the fire is put out?
2. Why does Mama conclude that Chester must go?
3. Why does Chester start to feel guilty?
4. Why does Mama change her mind and let Chester stay at the newsstand?
Chapter 12 Questions:
1. Why does Tucker want Chester to learn more music?
2. How does Chester receive a musical education?
3. Why is Mr. Smedley, the music teacher, so impressed with Chester’s music?
4. How does Mr. Smedley help make Chester a celebrity?
Chapter 13 Questions:
1. How does the editor react to Mr. Smedley’s letter? Why does he print it?
2. Why does a crowd gather at the newsstand?
3. How does Mama use Chester’s fame to make money?
4. Why isn’t Chester happy with his fame?
5. What events connected with the bell and the newspaper make Chester sad?
6. How does Mario know that Chester is sad? What does this reveal about Mario?
Chapter 14-15 Questions:
1. How do Tucker and Harry each react to Chester’s retirement plans?
2. What does Chester play for his final piece? Why does he choose this piece?
3. What miraculous change does Chester bring about in the city?
4. How does Chester say good-bye to Mario?
5. How does Mario know that Chester has left for good?
6. How does Mario react to Chester’s departure?
Teacher's Guide/Activity
http://media.us.macmillan.com/teachersguides/9780312380038TG.pdf
Literature Unit
Setting: Ask your parents to help you google some images of Times Square in New York to help you "see" the setting. Here are some words to type in for your search:
New YorkTimes Square
News stand New York
This is a Youtube video made by a boy who is in 6th grade. He lives in New York and will take you on a tour of the subway area and Times Square. Notice the 42 street signs in the subway area. You can hear all the loud noises!
http://youtu.be/WS89YDjwXSk
Chapter 1 Questions
1. Why does Tucker enjoy living in an abandoned drainpipe?
2. Why does Mario work late at his family's newspaper stand?
3. Why doesn't Paul wait for his change? What does that reveal about his character?
4. If Mario were in your class, do you think he would be a friend of yours? Why or Why not?
5. What sounds do you think Tucker would not recognize?
6. How do you think Tucker feels about living in New York City?
Chapter 2 Questions
Chapter 3 Questions
Chapter 4 & 5 Questions
Chapter 6 Questions
Chapter 7 & 8 Questions
Chapter 9 Questions
Chapter 10 Questions
Chapter 11 Questions:
1. Why does Chester return to the newsstand after the fire is put out?
2. Why does Mama conclude that Chester must go?
3. Why does Chester start to feel guilty?
4. Why does Mama change her mind and let Chester stay at the newsstand?
Chapter 12 Questions:
1. Why does Tucker want Chester to learn more music?
2. How does Chester receive a musical education?
3. Why is Mr. Smedley, the music teacher, so impressed with Chester’s music?
4. How does Mr. Smedley help make Chester a celebrity?
Chapter 13 Questions:
1. How does the editor react to Mr. Smedley’s letter? Why does he print it?
2. Why does a crowd gather at the newsstand?
3. How does Mama use Chester’s fame to make money?
4. Why isn’t Chester happy with his fame?
5. What events connected with the bell and the newspaper make Chester sad?
6. How does Mario know that Chester is sad? What does this reveal about Mario?
Chapter 14-15 Questions:
1. How do Tucker and Harry each react to Chester’s retirement plans?
2. What does Chester play for his final piece? Why does he choose this piece?
3. What miraculous change does Chester bring about in the city?
4. How does Chester say good-bye to Mario?
5. How does Mario know that Chester has left for good?
6. How does Mario react to Chester’s departure?
Songs that Chester Plays:
"The Grand March” from Aida"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX0qN6QEvGg
"Come Back to Sorrento"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk5xIZrmbZU
· “Stars and Stripes Forever”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmaR0h6-giE